Roach: Diverticulitis is the inflammation of diverticula

Dear Dr. Roach: I have been diagnosed with diverticulosis, and have been advised that I am at risk of developing diverticulitis. Can you elaborate on precisely what each of these diagnoses consists of, the level of risk involved in moving from one to the other and what I might do to mitigate such risk? Thanks in advance for your help. -- V.L.

Dr. Roach: Diverticula are small outpouchings in the wall of the colon. The condition of having them is called diverticulosis. These can cause problems most commonly through infection and by bleeding. When they become inflamed, usually through infection, it is called diverticulitis -- the "itis" indicating "inflammation." Eschewing nuts and seeds has long been recommended to prevent diverticulitis, although one recent study questioned whether this is important.

Diverticulitis usually is associated with both pain and fever, and is treated with antibiotics. Many surgeons recommend removal of the affected part of the colon, if possible, after an episode of diverticulitis, since the likelihood of recurrence is high. Bleeding usually comes from diverticulosis without diverticulitis.

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Roach: Diverticulitis is the inflammation of diverticula

Dear Dr. Roach: I have been diagnosed with diverticulosis, and have been advised that I am at risk of developing diverticulitis. Can you elaborate on precisely what each of these diagnoses consists